Calibrachoa plant named &#39;Duecalhulblu&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Duecalhulblu’, characterized by its compact to medium-sized, semi-upright to outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large flowers with light and dark purple-colored petals; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUECALHULBLU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Duecalhulblu’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new compact Calibrachoa plants with large,unique and attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in July, 2013 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietaryselection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number AA11-001733-001,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number AA11-000764-002,not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantfrom within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germanysince June, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this newCalibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duecalhulblu’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Duecalhulblu’ as a new and distinctCalibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Compact to medium-sized, semi-upright to outwardly spreading,        trailing and decumbent plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large flowers with light and dark purple-colored petals.    -   5. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants ofthe female parent selection in flower color as plants of the femaleparent selection have pink-colored flowers. In addition, plants of thenew Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants of the female parentselection.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants ofthe male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parentselection have pink-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the newCalibrachoa have larger flowers than plants of the male parentselection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of Calibrachoasp. ‘Wescaice’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,345. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plantsof ‘Wescaice’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are larger than plants of        ‘Wescaice’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have thicker lateral branches        than plants of ‘Wescaice’.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flower earlier than plants of        ‘Wescaice’.    -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely flowering than        plants of ‘Wescaice’.    -   5. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants        of ‘Wescaice’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Calibrachoa plant. The photograph is a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duecalhulblu’ grown ina container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 22-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. andlight levels averaged 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants were pinched onetime three weeks after planting and were 16 weeks old when thephotograph and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duecalhulblu’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number AA11-001733-001,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number AA11-000764-002,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact to medium-sized,            semi-upright to outwardly spreading to trailing and            decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit with about six            to seven primary lateral branches developing per plant;            pinching enhances branching; dense and full appearance;            vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 29 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 90 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 50 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing            and decumbent.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Close to 144B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, and after            flowering, opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 3.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent;            matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,            close to 137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 147B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.1 mm. Diameter: About 1.8 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 146D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually            about 1,000 to 1,500 flowers developing per plant during the            flowering season; flowers face upright to outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of            the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about four            to five weeks after planting; plants flower continuously            from the spring throughout the summer in Germany.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten            days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 2.6 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 8.6 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 1.7 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 2.9 mm.            Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to            2D.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:            About 1.4 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.5 cm. Petal shape:            Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin:            Entire. Petal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening,            upper surface: Close to 81B. Petal, when opening, lower            surface: Close to 78D. Petal, fully opened, upper surface:            Close to 78D; towards the throat, close to 79B; venation,            close to 82B; color becoming closer to 82B with development.            Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 84C; venation,            close to 84A. Throat: Distally, close to 79B; proximally,            close to 4B; venation, close to 79B. Tube: Close to 4B;            venation, close to 200D.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals;            sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.2 cm. Sepal            width: About 2.5 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:            Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 137C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Six per flower.            Filament length: About 1.1 cm. Filament color: Close to            154D. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther length: About            0.9 mm. Anther color: Close to 8A. Pollen amount: Scarce.            Pollen color: Close to 14B. Pistils: Quantity: One per            flower. Pistil length: About 8.2 mm. Style length: About            7.2 mm. Style color: Close to 144C. Stigma shape:            Ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 144B. Ovary color: Close            to 144D. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Calibrachoa plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named‘Duecalhulblu’ as illustrated and described.